Bruins Shine on Senior Day
UCLA is the most popular destination for SMC transfer students, with 414 SMC-to-UC transfers headed to the Westwood campus.
Corsair Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Jeremy Wolf
Managing Editor
Sophia DiDio
Photo Editor
Jake Crandall
Design Editor
Alexander Albao
Copy Editors
Phoebe Huss
Katie Easterson
Arts & Culture Editor
Liz Corona
News Editor
Eva Love Jopanda
Multimedia Editor
Tarelle Butts
Opinion Editor
Isabel Lopez Luna
Social Media Editor
Alexandra Gorgij
Sports Editor
Adriana Brady
Digital Editor
Karen Lopez
Newsletter Editor
Antionee Jones
Mary Funsten, Rebecca Villagracia, Alexander Lopez, David Rivera, Carmen Talavera, Gregory Hawthorne, Diego Kersh, Fernando Herrera, Jeffrey Berrios, Adriana Brady, Jenitcy Franco, Amelie Galzy, Jamie Garcia, Matthew Gonzalez-Valenzuela, Abiel Keli, Lilian Le, Isaac Lee, Catherine Lighton, Denisse Lopez, Brianna Minor, Jenna Tibby, Genesis Avila, Karina Movsesova, Isabel Lopez Luna, Zephira Marquez Franco, Karina Movsesova, Liam Rush, Macy Vargas, Chrissy Washington
Front: UCLA Bruins wide receiver Devanti
a pass during warmups on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13. (Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
Faculty Advisors
Sharyn Obsatz Journalism Advisor
Gerard Burkhart Photo Advisor
Samantha Nuñez Social Media Advisor
Dillard (35) catches
Back: Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Shuangheng Li, right, and Alberto Bravo stretch before the 3C2A cross country state championship race on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. (Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Farewell and Adieu
As our time together on The Corsair comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what an incredible journey it’s been. Coming into this semester, I knew there would be challenges, but I never anticipated how truly rewarding the experience would be. It has truly been a privilege to work alongside such a talented and passionate team. Together, we’ve navigated the complexities of journalism while maintaining a commitment to our creative passions.
I’m deeply grateful for the trust and collaboration that defined our work together. The contributions of every member, from editors and designers to writers and photographers, have upheld the reputation of The Corsair as a space for the community to shine. Watching the team come out of our shells and grow together was I all hoped to happen leading up to this semester. We have celebrated victories and learned from setbacks, and through it all, I have been constantly inspired by the resilience and dedication of the staff.
Going forward, The Corsair is in excellent hands. Our future Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor, Adriana and Jenna, will bring their tremendous talent and unique perspectives to the newsroom, taking it to heights previously undreamt of. No pressure. They will also have the support and guidance of our fantastic faculty advisors, without whom we surely would have been lost.
I leave swelling with gratitude, knowing that the skills and lessons I’ve gained during my time leading the charge will help form my personal and professional life. The bonds we’ve made along the way will last long after the semester ends. As Profs Obsatz and Burkhart like to say “The Corsair is for life”. It has truly been an honor to serve as Editor-in-Chief of this fine publication and I’m thrilled to see how this next chapter unfolds.
Jeremy Wolf Editor-in-Chief
UCLA Bruins offensive lineman Josh Carlin (54) enters the field on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13. (Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
Bruins Come Out on Top
The UCLA Bruins football team defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs in their final game of the season (20-13).
Pasadena, Calif. - On Nov. 30 the UCLA Bruins football team (5-7) won their final game of their season against the Fresno State Bulldogs (6-6), 20-13. Before the match, the seniors on both teams were recognized and honored, as well as the senior members of the UCLA band.
Bruins’ quarterback Ethan Garber passed for 289 yards and a touchdown. Bruins’ linebacker Carson Schwesinger became the first UCLA player to successfully block a punt and finished with the most solo tackles by a Big Ten conference player with 90 tackles.
“It felt great, honestly. It was a team effort. All 11 guys came out in the second half and dominated. We did what we needed to do and we were successful,” said Bruins’ quarterback Ethan Garber in a post game press conference.
Despite the game opening with several penalties, the Bruins secured the lead in the
second quarter, but the Bulldogs were able to catch up and take the lead in the third. However, a late first down with five minutes left in the fourth quarter allowed the Bruins to regroup and score another touchdown, securing their win.
“This game went very similar to how our season went. We had a few ups and downs, but my guys are very resilient,” said Bruins’ head coach DeShaun Foster to the media. “They’ve continued to play hard. They don’t let things affect them. I’m just blessed that I had the type of team that just continues to fight. We came out of the half and scored some points and got it going.”
“It was just more about us. It wasn’t anything that we needed to correct. We were kind of getting in our own way in that first half. So it was just more or less, we’ve got to get out there and execute – just stop doing things that will stop drives. Just have to find ways to
execute a play. Defensively, they did a great job. They came out and played well. Carson [Schwesinger] had 15 tackles, and that is probably the Butkus winner,” said Foster to the media. “Everybody make sure that you do your part. I’m saying to do your part because you guys see Carson every day. You guys see him at practice. You see how he has played in every game. You know that he didn’t start those first three games, and he still leads the nation in tackles. It was just a testament to what type of player he is – a former walk-on. And we probably shouldn’t even be saying that because he’s most definitely a scholarship player, but that’s just where he started. If he leaves, that is somebody who is going to be missed. He’s most definitely put his stamp on this program.”
Adriana Brady | Sports Editor
UCLA Bruins linebacker Wyatt Mosier (47) celebrates after a tackle on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13. (Photos by Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
UCLA Bruins running back Keegan Jones (22) carries the ball as Fresno State Bulldogs linebacker Tuasivi Nomura (8) reaches out to tackle him on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13.
Fresno State Bulldogs defensive back Al’zillion Hamilton (3) tackles UCLA Bruins wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer (3) on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13.
UCLA Bruins running back Anthony Frias II (29) celebrates UCLA Bruins wide receiver J.Michael Sturdivant (7) touchdown on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. UCLA defeated Fresno State 20-13.
A lively ode to symbol
Palestinian Youth Movement convened in Santa Monica to disrupt flow of commerce
Phoebe Huss | Copy Editor
Sunny shopping lacksadaise at Santa Monica Place was broke clean through by a wave of Palestinian Youth Movement protesters on Black Friday.
The assembly met at the mouth of Tongva Park, abuzz with jovial electrics. At the meeting place, the congregate interspersed convivially. All sorts of factions, from political parties to two-person alliances, made for a calm and unsynthesized audience. Pairs of parents and children wielding PYM buttons could have been spontaneously inspired parkgoers.
Markedly, the occasion was the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, or the anniversary of the UN resolution that separated Palestine into two states in 1947. This observance was the named purpose of PYM’s congregation.
However, a happenstance linkage with Black Friday permeated the chanting and decor of the attendees. The Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) was in full force distributing brandished signs with their campaign symbols, which pierced the airspace.
“We’re here to commemorate 76 years of occupation,” said Tharwa Khalid of PYM. “We’re also here to say that we’re not going to allow American consumerism to continue so long as our taxes continue to fund genocide.”
With PYM actions, the occasion shifts, but the movement’s objective remains the same, said Khalid. “We’re here to call an arms embargo against Israel and to demand an end to the occupation.”
The opening speaker defined the day’s combined operations. “The UN Security Council resolution - the partition resolution - (confirmed) the ancient semantics of the colonial Zionist project (that) Western powers had been establishing,” he said.
Quickly following, he added “we are here to call upon you all to engage in a consumer strike and boycott Black Friday, to stand in unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle against imperialism and the war for profit, driven by the same economic system relying on our unconditional spending to operate.”
The park, with a homey feel, allowed for a chill seldom known to demonstrations. Repetitions were hazy, drumbeats erratic. Comfortably, the park’s verdancy inspired peaceful arrangement between speeches. In preparation, the protesters sampled and selected their verbal catechisms, favoring “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping” and “Long live the intifada!”
The gathering hour elapsed. With the revving of drums and chants, the spirit made the irreversible switch to abrasive, entering their first disruptive action.
The quorum stormed into the street, resisting traffic, to the slow puzzlement of the drive-by. Flourish of car after car in gas guzzling symphony proved opponent to the dutiful chanters.
Tourists filmed protesters with museum-like awe, in admiration of a regional spectacle.
A protester holds a sign while others embrace during a protests held by the Palestinian Youth Movement calling for a boycott of black Friday, at the 3rd street promenade mall in Santa Monica, Calif., that marched the pieron Friday Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Crandall / The Corsair)
Whenever the protesters entered and left an area, their presence was duly remembered by movement stickers brushed on mallposts and dusty clouds of smoke. The crowd shifted onto Santa Monica Place, turning on consumers directly.
The sparsely populated mall proved a complementary recipient of the rally. The biggest receptor was a premature three-story Christmas tree sprouting red-and-green mechanics, affirming the storm’s Palestinian and Lebanese flags.
The few onlookers present were amazed. Many grinned patronizingly, others quizzical. The most common response was cellphone filming, as if in defense.
Sweeping through the mall, marchers gesticulated and snarled at centered vendors.
The march stalled and planted itself on the intersection of Broadway and Promenade, perched between Nike and Tesla storefronts. A casual blockade of police cars encroached on either side. One officer wearing an off-duty badge positioned behind the Nike glass. He stood braced, with bent arms and fists to the neck as he watched the crosswalk.
A chalk scratch on the ground read “Glory 2 All Our Martyrs.” Pumped up and showcased were the movement’s tried and tired symbols, including IDF diapers, bruised baby dolls, and watermelons.
Speakers broke up the chants with deliverance. Both Nike and Tesla were criticized for their complicity, specifically upon the basis of their partnerships with A.P. Møller—Maersk A/S, or Maersk.
Khalid shed light on PYM’s subset Mask off Maersk: “There’s this logistics company called Maersk. And Maersk basically ships weapons to Israel. And there is Maersk literally all over the world, it’s like an international company. We’ve seen gatherings of people similar to today who come out to protest Maersk’s compliance in genocide, and we’ve seen Maersk back down from it.”
PYM’s speaker called out Nike directly. “We’re standing right outside of the Nike store. If many of you remember, this past August, Maersk… hosted a free event at their port in LA in collaboration with Nike. Our community mobilized and we kicked Maersk out of that port.”
She related this to international movement success: “Two weeks ago, PYM published a report exposing Maersk’s crimes and showing they violated the Spanish government’s arms embargo by shipping military cargo to the Israeli occupation,” she said. “When we had our actions, the Spanish government responded. They refused to have three Maersk ships that were filled with military cargo docked at their port. They also announced they were launching a formal lawsuit against Maersk for their violation of the arms embargo.”
The crowd celebrated with cheers of “No more shipping Israeli cargo!”
Tesla, another company reliant on Maersk for transport and material, was approached by marchers, who threw open their glass doors and funneled in their chants from the outside. Customers continued to shop unabated.
Over the eve, PYM’s main megaphone became a sort of forum for the movement’s Santa Monica figureheads, who voiced faction-specific grievances.
A speaker from Doctors Against Genocide called upon the Hippocratic Oath: “The same doctors and healthcare workers who proclaim that all life is sacred, that have taken vows and oaths to do no harm, are sitting idly. Quietly. Watching this bombardment continue.”
Other speakers made similar connections. A prison abolitionist activist referred disparagingly to the rejected Proposition 6 which would have outlawed slave labor in state prisons. The American Indian Movement (AIM) representative read a land acknowledgment on behalf of the Tongva people and correlated the genocides of Indigenous people and Palestinians.
Similarly, individuality among the populace was present. The protest’s aggregate was a walking Santa Monican bulletin board, boasting such demographic associations as “Community College Students…,” “Socialists…,” and “Dancers for a Free Palestine.” Stringed instrument players and restless pet owners dotted the ensemble. As if desperate for inclusion, people’s wordplay banners ran the gamut. One attendee pushed his dog in a stroller with the cardboard message “Petestine.” This skewed selection resulted in disjointed action.
Others present might have been in search of refuge, such as SMC’s own Elias Serna, professor of ethnic studies. Serna, who didn’t respond to the Corsair’s request for comment, faced substantive local and online backlash last spring for referring to Israel’s actions in Gaza as objective genocide in his curriculum.
A protester holds a sign while others embrace during a protests held by the Palestinian Youth Movement calling for a boycott of black Friday, at the 3rd street promenade mall in Santa Monica, Calif., that marched the pieron Friday Nov. 29, 2024. (Photos by Jake Crandall / The Corsair)
A protester from the Palestinian Youth Movement speaks into a microphone calling for a boycott of black Friday, at the 3rd street promenade mall in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday Nov. 29, 2024.
Sunny shopping lacksadaise at Santa Monica Place was broke clean through by a wave of Palestinian Youth Movement protesters on Black Friday.
The assembly met at the mouth of Tongva Park, abuzz with jovial electrics. At the meeting place, the congregate interspersed convivially. All sorts of factions, from political parties to two-person alliances, made for a calm and unsynthesized audience. Pairs of parents and children wielding PYM buttons could have been spontaneously inspired parkgoers.
Markedly, the occasion was the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, or the anniversary of the UN resolution that separated Palestine into two states in 1947. This observance was the named purpose of PYM’s congregation.
However, a happenstance linkage with Black Friday permeated the chanting and decor of the attendees. The Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) was in full force distributing brandished signs with their campaign symbols, which pierced the airspace.
“We’re here to commemorate 76 years of occupation,” said Tharwa Khalid of PYM. “We’re also here to say that we’re not going to allow American consumerism to continue so long as our taxes continue to fund genocide.”
With PYM actions, the occasion shifts, but the movement’s objective remains the same, said Khalid. “We’re here to call an arms embargo against Israel and to demand an end to the occupation.”
The opening speaker defined the day’s combined operations. “The UN Security Council resolution - the partition resolution - (confirmed) the ancient semantics of the colonial Zionist project (that) Western powers had been establishing,” he said.
Quickly following, he added “we are here to call upon you all to engage in a consumer strike and boycott Black Friday, to stand in unwavering support for the Palestinian people in their struggle against imperialism and the war for profit, driven by the same economic system relying on our unconditional spending to operate.”
The park, with a homey feel, allowed for a chill seldom known to demonstrations. Repetitions were hazy, drumbeats erratic. Comfortably, the park’s verdancy inspired peaceful arrangement between speeches. In preparation, the protesters sampled and selected their verbal catechisms, favoring “While you’re shopping, bombs are dropping” and “Long live the intifada!”
The gathering hour elapsed. With the revving of drums and chants, the spirit made the irreversible switch to abrasive, entering their first disruptive action.
The quorum stormed into the street, resisting traffic, to the slow puzzlement of the drive-by. Flourish of car after car in gas guzzling symphony proved opponent to the dutiful chanters.
Tourists filmed protesters with museum-like awe, in admiration of a regional spectacle.
Whenever the protesters entered and left an area, their presence was duly remembered by movement stickers brushed on mallposts and dusty clouds of smoke. The crowd shifted onto Santa Monica Place, turning on consumers directly.
The sparsely populated mall proved a complementary recipient of the rally. The biggest receptor
was a premature three-story Christmas tree sprouting red-and-green mechanics, affirming the storm’s Palestinian and Lebanese flags.
The few onlookers present were amazed. Many grinned patronizingly, others quizzical. The most common response was cellphone filming, as if in defense.
Sweeping through the mall, marchers gesticulated and snarled at centered vendors.
The march stalled and planted itself on the intersection of Broadway and Promenade, perched between Nike and Tesla storefronts. A casual blockade of police cars encroached on either side. One officer wearing an off-duty badge positioned behind the Nike glass. He stood braced, with bent arms and fists to the neck as he watched the crosswalk.
A chalk scratch on the ground read “Glory 2 All Our Martyrs.” Pumped up and showcased were the movement’s tried and tired symbols, including IDF diapers, bruised baby dolls, and watermelons.
Speakers broke up the chants with deliverance. Both Nike and Tesla were criticized for their complicity, specifically upon the basis of their partnerships with A.P. Møller—Maersk A/S, or Maersk.
Khalid shed light on PYM’s subset Mask off Maersk: “There’s this logistics company called Maersk. And Maersk basically ships weapons to Israel. And there is Maersk literally all over the world, it’s like an international company. We’ve seen gatherings of people similar to today who come out to protest Maersk’s compliance in genocide, and we’ve seen Maersk back down from it.”
PYM’s speaker called out Nike directly. “We’re standing right outside of the Nike store. If many of you remember, this past August, Maersk… hosted a free event at their port in LA in collaboration with Nike. Our community mobilized and we kicked Maersk
Protesters from the Palestinian Youth Movement stop a vehicle from driving during a protest calling for a boycott of / The Corsair)
out of that port.”
She related this to international movement success: “Two weeks ago, PYM published a report exposing Maersk’s crimes and showing they violated the Spanish government’s arms embargo by shipping military cargo to the Israeli occupation,” she said. “When we had our actions, the Spanish government responded. They refused to have three Maersk ships that were filled with military cargo docked at their port. They also announced they were launching a formal lawsuit against Maersk for their violation of the arms embargo.”
The crowd celebrated with cheers of “No more shipping Israeli cargo!” Tesla, another company reliant on Maersk for transport and material, was approached by marchers, who threw open their glass doors and funneled in their chants from the outside. Customers continued to shop unabated.
Over the eve, PYM’s main megaphone became a sort of forum for the movement’s Santa Monica figureheads, who voiced faction-specific grievances.
A speaker from Doctors Against Genocide called upon the Hippocratic Oath: “The same doctors and healthcare workers who proclaim that all life is sacred, that have taken vows and oaths to do no harm, are sitting idly. Quietly. Watching this bombardment continue.”
Other speakers made similar connections. A prison abolitionist activist referred disparagingly to the rejected Proposition 6 which would have outlawed slave labor in state prisons. The American Indian Movement (AIM) representative read a land acknowledgment on behalf of the Tongva people and correlated the genocides of Indigenous people and Palestinians.
Similarly, individuality among the populace was present. The protest’s aggregate was a walking Santa Monican bulletin board, boasting such demographic associations
as “Community College Students…,” “Socialists…,” and “Dancers for a Free Palestine.” Stringed instrument players and restless pet owners dotted the ensemble. As if desperate for inclusion, people’s wordplay banners ran the gamut. One attendee pushed his dog in a stroller with the cardboard message “Petestine.” This skewed selection resulted in disjointed action.
Others present might have been in search of refuge, such as SMC’s own Elias Serna, professor of ethnic studies. Serna, who didn’t respond to the Corsair’s request for comment, faced substantive local and online backlash last spring for referring to Israel’s actions in Gaza as objective genocide in his curriculum.
While the speakers cried out, voices muffled by the bustles and spotty megaphones, the marchers shifted around with some unease. The police blockade wasn’t letting up and the towering marketplace walls seemed a constant antagonist. Breaking off, some flag-bearers spilled into the Third Street Promenade and jockeyed their holds at pedestrians.
Shoppers daring to shortcut through the commotion left retaliatory cracks of “so stupid” and cursory mocking eyes. Apartment-building starers dared direct rivalry with middle fingers.
Without a stop in chant, the protest made the collective trek into the promenade in a hearty attempt to derail commerce. They boomed, “Money for jobs and education… not for wars and occupation!”
The terrain, though passive receptive, was some deceptive carrion. Once an epicenter of communal activity, the promenade joins the ranks of decaying Santa Monican infrastructure. Building on the barren, protesters and their screams saturated the streets as if filling a prescribed niche. They were attacking the air and rattling empty storefronts.
With little resistance, however, the sounds travelled, elongated, and disintegrated. The aspired cutdown on purchasing power diminished in evident likelihood.
Regardless, inspiring any level of discomfit aligns with the movement. A speaker from Stop LAPD Spying acknowledged and cherished social risks: “ It will impact friendships, it will impact relationships, and it will impact camaraderie… (This is) a difficult journey, a difficult path, but the only path to our collective liberation.”
Shop managers greeted the marchers by standing in their doorways, in symbolic defense. Some threw solidative peace signs. And protesters did cluster the Apple store, the avenue’s last chance at hubbub.
Met with the horizon and blazing sunset, protesters’ molten cheering was refired. The next recipients were the beachfront hotels, whose tweedy clientele cracked their windows to eye down the ruckus with bemuse.
The demonstration wouldn’t spare any consumers. On sight, they were unanimously defamed by the marchers, and enveloped into their trickling calls of “Shame!”
Finally, the synod was re-centripetal at the entryway of the Santa Monica Pier. For their last stop of the night, the speakers amassed for final congratulations and bookkeeping.
The bellows prolonged. Protesters maintained
of black Friday at the 3rd Street Promenade Mall in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Crandall
conviction as Ocean Avenue’s nightlife and piergoers filtered around, as for a sullen pothole. The only bridge between the protesters and shoppers was the slow-creeping lurk of police vehicles from behind.
“The mainstream media also wants us to feel hopeless and to feel despair because of these recent elections, but we know that we've been feeling this way before,” said a final speaker. “With the Democrats, whether it's the Republicans, the ruling class has shown time and time again that their allegiance is with Zionism and with making profit.
“But just like the generations of people who have been fighting before us, we will continue because we are the children of the resistance. Is that right? Yes! And so thus we have honored the title of thousands of martyrs that we saw, and our political prisoners.
“Whether it's Joe Biden, whether it's Donald Trump, we know where their allegiance lies and we know that we will continue this fight.
…We hope to see you again on the streets, time and time again, until we see an end to this genocide, and end to the occupation and settlercolonialism in Palestine and wherever it manifests around the world.”
With a snap, the megaphones ceased, and the protest blinked back to normal.
Having cycled the ring, exhausted, the hoarsened crowd dispersed cooly and evenly. The perfect storm evaporated, tidy, and night fell in velvet thickness. A not-so-subtle test of consequence descended.
As their traces disappeared, organizers faced a tincture of reflection. They might not have stopped the magnet of utmost consumerism, but the definite upset of normalcy was, at least, cause for re-evaluation.
“This was supposed to be a big thing,” said an organizer. “We’ll get back on track.”
A store employee records protesters from the Palestinian Youth Movement protest calling for a boycott of black Friday, at the 3rd street promenade mall in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday Nov. 29, 2024. (Jake Crandall / The Corsair)
GIVING THANKS(giving) 2024: SMC’s annual tradition to support students during the holidays
For the seventh year, the SMC Foundation’s GIVING THANKS(giving) event was organized to provide thousands of students with groceries for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Amelie Galzy | Staff Writer
Last week, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Foundation hosted its seventh annual GIVING THANKS(giving) event, an initiative to support the students during the holiday season. Over the course of those three days, from Nov. 25-27, the event provided groceries and holiday meal essentials to over 2,200 students, according to Basic
Needs Assistant Jaime Villalobos.
GIVING THANKS(giving) is a vital part of the SMC Basic Needs Program, which addresses the challenges of thousands of students. This program addresses food insecurity, transportation needs, and access to mental health services and clothing.
This year, the event surpassed its fundraising goal, collecting $257,229 from
245 donors. These donations made possible the distribution of holiday groceries. Students could pick up fresh produce, pies, bread, butter, non-alcoholic sparkling cider, vegetables, fruits, and even more. Gift cards were also given to the students to purchase additional groceries.
To accommodate students’ schedules, the event, held at the SMC Bodega, operated during extended holiday
volunteers at the Giving Thankgiving event organized by Bodega at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. Photo provided to the Corsair by JAIME VILLALOBOS (Basic needs Project Assistant) and taken on Monday november 25th 2024.
hours from Monday to Wednesday prior to Thanksgiving Day. From early morning to the evening, the Bodega was warmed up with a welcoming holiday feeling and gratitude as students were invited to select items for their Thanksgiving meals, all provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. To pick up the groceries, students needed to present a valid student ID.
This year, the event was made possible thanks to numerous sponsors and community partners. The sponsors include SMC Associated Students, SMC Associates, SMC Emeritus, Albertsons Companies Foundation, Hello Monday HR, Dance for a Difference, Freya & Mark Ivener, KCRW, Layla Bagels & Coffee, Rachel & Jeff Lipp, Melissa’s Produce, Payden & Rygel, Recharge, Jacmar Foodservice, Dr. Ava T. Shamban, Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, and Westside Food Bank.
GIVING THANKS(giving) is a symbol of gratitude and unity for the students, and the staff and the volunteers were filled with the true spirit of Thanksgiving.
As this seventh edition of GIVING THANKS(giving) came to an end, SMC showed its care for the students and effort to create a supportive community. And with the help of donors and volunteers, SMC’s GIVING THANKS(giving) continues to make an impact on students’ lives through this holiday season.
Workers at the Giving Thankgiving event organized by Bodega at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. Photo provided to the Corsair by JAIME VILLALOBOS (Basic needs Project Assistant) and taken on Monday november 25th 2024.
volunteer at the Giving Thankgiving event organized by Bodega at Santa Monica College, in Santa Monica, Calif. Photo provided to the Corsair by JAIME VILLALOBOS (Basic needs Project Assistant) and taken on Monday november 25th 2024.Photo provided to the Corsair by JAIME VILLALOBOS (Basic needs Project Assistant) and taken on Monday november 25th 2024.
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Westside Food Bank: Giving Thanks and Giving Back
Katie Easterson | Copy Editor
Westside Food Bank is a warehouse that provides food to around 60 different social service agencies throughout the western LA County, including Santa Monica. They are the sole provider for the Santa Monica College (SMC) Bodega program.
The GIVING THANKS(giving) event that took place on SMC’s main campus received a portion of their donations from Westside Food Bank. They are a wholesale operation, so food is delivered to them by truckload. They receive donated food from farms around California and food drives. They then distribute that food, mostly through their network of partner agencies. (Programs like SMC Bodega and UCLA’s Food Closet.)
Westside Food Bank has a direct service through their Mobile Food Pantry program, which occurs five times a week. They bring a truck into local communities, serve food to people, and provide free groceries. One is operated in Santa Monica at Virginia Avenue Park every Thursday morning from 10-11 a.m. Westside Food Bank’s website, WFSB.org, provides more information on volunteering.
When speaking with Genevive Riutort, the President and CEO of Westside Food Bank, she expanded on how people can help give back to the community, the specifics of Thanksgiving food, and their partner agencies.
Regarding giving back to the community, Riutort said, “The best place to get information is from our website. There's places you can click on to volunteer… We list out opportunities there, so anyone who wants to help with boxing food and getting it ready for distribution at those local food pantries. We usually do those on Friday mornings and Tuesday afternoons.”
Riutort mentioned that on Nov. 22, Westside had a Thanksgiving giveaway food drive. It was from 3-5 p.m., and it had a resource fair. Riutort said, “There was a raffle for 150 turkeys as well as several Thanksgiving foods. There were also resources for people to learn how to sign up for different programs, like CalFresh and other programs that are available for low-income people.”
When it comes to Westside Food Bank’s partnering agencies, Riutort said, “Many of our partner agencies have other programs besides food. They’re supporting, y’know, a women and girls coding program, helping veterans stay housed, and case management for people that are trying to get off the streets and get into housing. Our food is really the support system for 60 other agencies and all of their programs because we provide them food free of charge, and then they provide it to their clients free of charge.”
Right now, food insecurity is the highest it’s ever been, especially in key neighborhoods including Santa Monica, Culver City, Inglewood, and Venice. Three in 10 Los Angeles residents are food-insecure, and that’s almost double what the rate was during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s affecting people from all walks of life: students, seniors, and working people who don’t make enough to pay their rent.
“I think we really try to reduce the stigma and shame because especially COVID really shined a light on how many people from all walks of life, people who work, people who work more than one full-time job, often still need help, and there’s no shame in asking for it,” Riutort said. “We try to make it very easy. So at any of our pantries, there's no need for identification, you just show up and wait in line like everyone else.”
When it comes to the food being provided, Riutort said, “I think another thing that makes Westside Food Bank stand out is that we focus very much on nutrition. In fact, over 67% of the food that we give out is really high in nutritional value. It’s fresh in produce, fruits, vegetables, eggs, chicken, staples like rice and beans. We have people who tell us that our pantries are the only way they get fresh produce.”
The emphasis WestSide Food Bank has on providing fresh, nutritious food shows their dedication to addressing hunger, while also promoting health and wellness. Having access to high protein foods rich in nutrients ensures everyone has access to meals that nourish your body and mind.
Homeless Service Work Certification; SMC’s Response to LA’s Homeless Crisis
Sophia Didio | Managing Editor
Jamie Garcia
|
Staff Writer
Since 2019, Santa Monica College has been proud to offer a program that provides training for homeless service workers
Los Angeles has seen an immense rise in unhoused individuals over the last few decades, coupled with a lack of trained outreach service workers. According to the McKinsey and Company report, about one in 150 Angelenos are experiencing homelessness. It is further projected that by 2028, L.A. will claim a homeless population of around 100,000. This has never been, especially not now, an issue to be taken lightly.
In 2019, Santa Monica College (SMC) established the Homeless Service Work Program as a response to L.A.’s homeless crisis, which properly educates and certifies students to work in the homeless response system. It’s the brainchild of Nancy Greenstein, member of the Board of Trustees, and Dean of Academic Affairs Patricia Ramos. They partnered with some friends working in the field, who came together to discuss the scarcity of training options for people pursuing homeless services.
“There wasn’t a dedicated training that people could take, like take a certificate and show that they had ‘xyz’ skills and that there were many more jobs than there were people available to take them,” Greenstein said. She explained her and her colleagues’ thought process behind the need for the program: “It was a hard job and many people who took the jobs that were entry level weren’t prepared.”
Thanks to Greenstein’s connections, SMC was able to partner with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), which provided funding for the pilot program. Student fees are covered by LAHSA as well, allowing the program to be accessible, which is of utmost importance considering students participating come from various backgrounds. Some of them have experienced being unhoused themselves.
Due to the previously established relationships between SMC faculty and LAHSA, experts with decades of experience in the field were brought in to help develop a curriculum that would be all-encompassing.
Steven Sedky, an associate dean at SMC who has worked as a liaison between the school and LAHSA, said “We developed a curriculum that prepares students to not only start their careers on the frontlines of the sector, but our hope is that they would also be the next generation of leaders in the sector.”
The program hosts a cohort of 20 students who are taught skills that prepare them to venture into homeless response systems, which offer a myriad of potential careers. Greenstein explained the diversity of the cohort, stating, “We have people who might have a degree, and we have people who are volunteers from agencies, people with lived experience, people who are just starting at SMC.” The beauty of the program is the range of students it welcomes, with no limit to who can get involved in this imperative cause.
Greenstein and Sedky both separately expressed the same intention for the program, which is that it receive some fine-tuning and ultimately travel to other schools.
“This has never been about the college… it’s always a program to be shared, we didn’t want to just say ‘we have a good program.’ There’s so much need all over that we wanted to be able to perfect it and share it,” said Greenstein. “We can take it to other schools. We can actually go and work with other schools if they want to institute programs themselves.”
Sedky further explained the necessity to bring the program to other community colleges, with “1,300 to 1,400 open positions in the field… there’s a huge labor market shortage; there’s just a huge need to get people in the field.”
This program is simultaneously an opportunity for storytelling, a sentiment expressed by Sedky. Students who gravitate towards this program tend to have personal stories that help them relate to struggles of homelessness, which drive them to be part of the change.
Faith Freeman is one of the 20 students who joined the program this semester. She shared her personal experiences and struggles with addiction, which moved her to join this program: “There is a lot of stigma so I feel like having this program at a community college could really break that down and help students who are dealing with homelessness as well.”
The program plans to continue its growth. The sky is the limit and its implementation at SMC is only the beginning. There’s hope for the development of a related associate degree, larger student engagement, and of course, expansion to other schools.
“ ”
This has never been about the college… it’s always a program to be shared, we didn’t want to just say ‘we have a good program.’ There’s so much need all over that we wanted to be able to perfect it and share it,” said Greenstein
On Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Supervisor 3rd District, makes an appearance at a screening of The Advocates a film by Remi Kessler at Santa Monica College Center for Media and Design in Santa Monica, Calif.(Gregg Hawthorne |The Corsair)
Racing at State
Rebecca Villagracia | Photographer
The Santa Monica College men’s cross country team competed in the 3C2A State Championship on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Woodward Park in Fresno. This was the team’s first state championship appearance since the 2022 season.
The day’s rainy weather cleared up before the start of the race, with the four-mile route altered by muddy conditions.
After Corsairs’ runner Levy Dawson injured his calf less than an hour before the start of the race, another Corsair runner Ryder Dragsbeit competed in his place. This late injury hurt the Corsairs’ overall team score, finishing 21st out of 24 teams. Dawson was originally the fourth runner of the team, with the top five runners of the team making the overall team score.
Corsairs’ runner Colin McCormick surprised his team with a 13th place finish, making the team all-state finishers. “I kind of accidentally went out way too hard,” said McCormick. “I was kind of just thinking, this is my last race, you know, I'm just gonna go for it. So I did that. Somehow, I got 13(th place).”
“They were smart. They went through the first mile well-paced,” said head coach Eric Barron. “They felt strong and they looked strong and it was a great way to wrap up the season.”
Results:
Place Time
13 Colin McCormick 21:14.0
71 Alberto Bravo 22:23.5
142 Jairo Zamora 23:26.3
175 Shuangheng Li 24:31.7
178 Diego Reyes 24:38.1
183 Vincent Singer 24:54.9
187 Ryder Dragsbeit 25:48.2
21 Team 1:56:13 total time 23:14 avg time
Despite injuries, the Corsairs
Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Colin McCormick adjusts his socks before the 3C2A cross country state championship race on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. (Photos by Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Levy Dawson stretches during the 3C2A cross country state championship on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. Dawson was unable to compete after a calf injury prior to the race.
Corsairs placed at state with Colin McCormick taking 13th overall.
Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Jairo Zamora runs during the 3C2A cross country state championship race on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. (Photos by Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Colin McCormick, 354, begins the 3C2A cross country state championship race on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. “I kind of accidentally went out way too hard,” said McCormick. “I was kind of just thinking, this is my last race, you know, I’m just gonna go for it. So I did that. Somehow. I got 13[th place].
Santa Monica College Corsairs’ Colin McCormick poses for a portrait with his 13th place medal during the 3C2A cross country state championship on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.
Santa Monica College Corsair’s men’s cross country runners from left: Jairo Zamora, Diego Reyes, Alberto Bravo, Vincent Singer, Colin McCormick, Ryder Dragsbeit and Shuangheng Li pose for a portrait after competing in the 3C2A cross country state championship race on Sat., Nov. 23, 2024 at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif. (Rebecca Villagracia | The Corsair)
Latina Voters React to Increase in Latino Trump Supporters
Exit
polls show Latino/Hispanic support for Trump has risen during this election. But why?
Opinion by: Jeffrey Berrios | Staff Writer
President-elect Donald Trump has had many feuds throughout his career, but one of his most notorious is the one with Latinos, especially Latino immigrants. The relationship between Trump and Latinos has been rocky, to say the least, from labeling them as rapists and murderers to allowing “comedian” Tony Hinchcliffe to make off-colored comments about Puerto Rico, calling the country a “floating island of garbage” at his rally this year. While some may view Trump’s actions towards Latinos as unforgivable, it appears that many Latinos have raised the white flag and turned their backs on the Democratic Party
In the 2024 presidential election, the Republican Party, led by Donald J. Trump, won not only the presidential race with 312 electoral votes but also the Senate and the House. Despite a majority of Latinos still sticking with the Democratic Party, exit polls show that Latino support for Trump rose from 35% in 2020 to 42% in this latest election. Exit polls also show that 55% of Latino Trump supporters were men.
Esthela Moncada, social chair of Santa Monica College’s (SMC) Latino Center/Adelante Program, expressed her reaction to the increase in Latino men voting for Trump stating, “I’m pissed at them, it’s very disheartening because Trump doesn’t want them. So it’s just disheartening that Latino men specifically went to go vote for a man who doesn’t want them. But I am happy as a whole that more Latinos are voting because they do deserve to use their voice.”
Like Moncada, many other Latinos were taken aback by the increase and left wondering why. Many Latinos cited economic issues for their switch this election, while others cited religious beliefs and even the fact that Trump’s competitor, Kamala Harris, is a woman. Nicky Jam, a Latino rapper from Michigan, endorsed Trump, stating “The reason I had supported Donald Trump was because I thought he was the best (option) for the economy in the United States where many Latin and immigrants live, and many of them are suffering because of the economy.”
Jennifer Cachon, a sociology major at SMC, shared her belief as to why the percentage of Latino Trump support spiked this election, stating, “My guess would be the media and the propaganda. I would see a lot of Spanish news outlets claiming that Trump would help the economy, and that was something I heard a lot from Latino men, how they wanted a change in the economy, and how he was the better option.”
Despite a majority of Latinos still voting for Kamala Harris, it can’t be ignored that something about her campaign turned many of them off. Harris’s campaign suffered immensely from the fact that it only lasted 107 days because she was not the original candidate, and President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on July 21. This resulted in what many considered a rushed campaign, leading many people to wonder what policies Harris proposed.
“I wish she had more time. I think she had to resort to brain-rot campaigning and media but I do wish she had more time so that she could talk about the policies she was going to ensure during her presidency,” Moncada added.
When asked if Harris could’ve done more to secure a higher percentage of Latino voters, Mocada responded, “No. Because she’s black and a woman and I think there’s a lot of racism and machismo within the Latino community.” Stephanie Diaz-Munoz, an architecture major at SMC, shared a different
perspective, stating, “I’m Latina and I didn’t see a lot of Latina promotion from Kamala. I did read up on her policies that would help underprivileged people of color, including Latinos, which is amazing. But did I see something specifically where she was touching base with Latinos? Not that I’m aware of.” She also mentions feeling a lack of effort from the Democratic Party this year, stating “I do think that when election time rolls around they do try and include the Latina vote, but this time around there was a lack thereof.”
Many Latinos have expressed their frustrations with the Democratic Party with many feeling like they’ve been sold lies or that their presence isn’t valued by the party unless it’s beneficial. “The Democratic Party tends to promise, promise, promise, but there’s a white sheet over it. They don’t actually care about us,” Mocada said. Moncada isn’t the only Latino with this sentiment.
Santa Monica College (SMC) architecture student Stephanie DiazMunoz and member of the Adelante Club poses at SMC’s Art Complex building in Santa Monica, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (Jeffrey Berrios| The Corsair)
Many Latinos have shared their feelings of neglect by the Party after they cast their votes.When asked if she felt supported by the party, Diaz-Munoz said, “I’m Democratic all the way, mostly because the policies align with my beliefs. I think during election time, yes, there is that support, but a little bit afterward the support gets lost.”
This election, in particular, has opened the discussion about what the Democratic Party should do to gain more Latino support. When asked what advice she would give to the Democratic Party for future elections to secure more Latino voters, Cachon stated, “I would hope they could get on more Latino media outlets because I just feel like I didn’t see much about Kamala, and if anything, it was her being painted in a bad light. So, reach out and secure more interviews.”
If we’ve learned anything from this election, it’s that Latinos won’t hesitate to switch sides, regardless of a candidate’s unfavorable sentiments. This means by 2028, the Democratic party will need to step up its game when it comes to reaching Latino voters because while a majority of them chose the left, it’s not guaranteed that it’ll happen again.
“The Democratic Party tends to promise, promise, promise, but there’s a white sheet over it. They don’t actually care about us”
Voters wait in line to cast their vote on Election Day outside the First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at Pasadena, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)
